1. Ronald
Reagan and
the Reagan
Revolution
Essential Questions:
What effect does a changing
economy have on American
society?
What is the proper role of
government in people’s lives?
To what extent has America
lived up to its founding
ideals?
How did the end of the Cold
War alter the United States’
security and position in the
world?
• America’s Changing
Economy Graphing Activity
• Reaganomics decision
• Conservative vs. Liberal
views of the Reagan
Administration
• Iran-Contra decision

2. America’s Changing
Economy Graphing Activity
Different Types of Industries
Employment by Industry graph
Main sectors of the economy
Employment by Industry in the U.S. graph

3. Different Types of Industries
 Services
 Considered white
collar
 Some jobs require a
high level of formal
education
 Agricultural
 Considered blue
collar
 Create products
based on a farm
 Little formal
education needed
 Manufacturing
 Considered blue collar
 Create products by
hand or with machines
 Little formal education
needed
 Mining
 Considered blue collar
 Remove mineral from
the ground
 Little formal education
needed

4. Write the following statements
in your notes.
 Between 1910 and 2010, these industries
saw a decline
 Between 1910 and 2010, this industry saw
an increase

6. Main sectors of the economy
Manufacturing
 Considered blue
collar
 Create products
by hand or with
machines
 Little formal
education needed
Professional and
Business Services
 Considered white
collar
 Provides services or
transacts business
operations
 Formal education
usually required

7. Write the following statements
in your notes.
 Between 1951 and 2007, the overall trend for
manufacturing employment
 (increase, decrease or stay the same)
 The difference in manufacturing employment
between 1951 and 2007 was
 Between 1951 and 2007, the overall trend for
professional and business employment
 (increase, decrease or stay the same)
 The difference in professional and business
employment between 1951 and 2007?

9. Reaganomics
Essential Questions:
What effect does a changing economy have on American
society?
What is the proper role of government in people’s lives?
To what extent has America lived up to its founding ideals?

10. Directions
Paper Option
1. Read the handout
and decide what you
will do in each of the
five areas.
2. Fill out handout 2 and
decide what you will
do about federal
spending.
 If you are cutting the
budget, decide where
the money will come
from.
3. Discussion on the
budget
Digital Option
1. Reagan Decision
2. Fill out handout 2 and
decide what you will
do about federal
spending.
3. If you are cutting the
budget, decide where
the money will come
from.
4. Discussion on the
budget

11. Discussion
 Reduce Federal Spending
 Would you cut the federal budget?
 Which programs would you cut and why?
 Lower income-tax rates for individual and businesses
 Would you lower income-tax rates for individual and
businesses?
 How would this help with the economy?
 Decrease government regulation of business
 Would you decrease government regulation of business?
 How would this help with the economy?
 Fight inflation by keeping interest rates high
 Would you fight inflation by keeping interest rates high?
 How would this help with the economy?
 Balance the federal budget
 Would you balance the federal budget?
 How would this help with the economy?

12. Read the Reaganomics handout
and answer these questions.
 Essential Question: What is the proper role of
government in people’s lives?
 1. Did the economy under Reagan improve? Use
two examples from the text to support your answer.
 2. According to the article, why did Regan believe
cutting taxes would improve the economy? Explain
at least two reasons in your own words.
 3. Which action taken by Reagan had the greatest
impact on the economy? Use a specific example
to support your response?
 4. Explain why Reagonomics is a good title for this
article. Give two reasons to support your response.

13. The Conservative
(Reagan) Revolution
 Response to overgrown
government entitlement
programs
 $300 billion annually
 Goals of conservative
movement
 Shrink the size of the
federal government and
reduce spending
 Promote family values
and patriotic ideals
 Stimulate business by
reducing government
regulations and lowering
taxes
 Strengthen national
defense

14. Notes/Outcomes for
Reaganomics
Government Spending Policies
Tax Cuts
Reduction of Regulations
Interest Rates
Balanced Budget